Retail Anywhere had already been a close partner with NetSuite and in recent years had even begun building its software with NetSuite's own PaaS (platform as a service), said NetSuite CEO Zach Nelson.

Its software runs on standard POS hardware as well as iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch devices, albeit in a browser client. Native mobile applications are on tap, with iOS likely the first target, Nelson said.

NetSuite launched SuiteCommerce last year, but that focused on e-commerce. Now Retail Anywhere's software gives NetSuite a stronger hand inbrick-and-mortar stores, according to Nelson.

"It turns out this channel called retail is still pretty important," he said. "What we're doing is enabling every company to deliver that Apple-like experience, regardless of touch point."

It also gives NetSuite deep experience in retail, given Retail Anywhere's multi-decade history that spans back to much older POS systems. The company also has 6,000 customers, which NetSuite is clearly hoping will migrate to Retail Anywhere's more modern product.

NetSuite's efforts to pull together a broad-based retail suite ties into a trend called matrix commerce, which is described in a new report from Constellation Research.

"Commerce silos exist everywhere from the last disruption -- ecommerce," wrote Constellation CEO Ray Wang. "In the rush to build internet presence, brick and mortar, call center, and even catalog operations were isolated from their web brethren. The result -- customers failed to achieve a seamless experience across the channels that mattered and revered brands were pummeled into oblivion as the web cannibalized legacy channels."